I always like to stop in at the canteen at Merci 111 bd de Beaumarchais for a healthy salad.

I returned for a second helping with Jennyphoria to talk about French visas and other expat chatter. I could eat here everyday I think.

D. took me to Italian Ante Prima for a buffet of all veg dishes.

Australian expat, Rachel Bajada of French for Foodies had a 7-course dinner. I only made it to the 3rd course before the zzzzzs hit me. The last course was at 3 AM, ahem.This is ravioli of beets with fromage frais et cajou.

I can always depend on L. for some sweetness - a flight of 5 ice creams from Pascale le Glacier to taste. Life is tough.

What did Bear eat? Those artisanal potato chips you were all curious about - very YUM

Yesterday I was reading Lindsey's Lost in Cheeseland on the choice of becoming a French national or figuring out who she is after living in France 3 years. I picked up again Sarah Turnbull's Almost French yesterday and she grapples with the same questions of identity. It must be every expat's dilemma. But after looking through what I ate during 3 weeks in France I don't think I'd have a problem deciding. Remember the dragee from Le Bonbon au Palais? In ALMOST FRENCH you step into Sarah's shoes and live her life with her French boyfriend in Paris. A vibrant, young Australian journalist, Turnbull makes every faux pas of any foreigner adjusting to France. On one occasion her Frenchman sends her out to get dragée/candied almonds for a celebration. She brings home the wrong color and a huge fuss is made. White dragee for weddingsPink for a newborn girlBlue for a boy etc. I just popped a dragee in my mouth from Le Bonbon au Palais to celebrate what I ate in France. Bon Week-end!

21 comments:

More books I want to read now! My mother-in-law recently gave my wife and I money for our wedding anniversary, and I used mine to order books from Amazon. I ordered "Tout Sweet," "Doodling in French," and the photography book where the different colors in Paris are all grouped together. I can't remember the name, but I bet you mentioned it sometime on your blog. The book reminded me of how you blog about colors.

I am full! Merci! Somewhere this week I heard ona show how hard it is for foreigners in the USA to figure out our customs (NEVER kiss anyone till you know what color underwear they wear; stay 1 full arm's distance away from all people at all times, do NOT discuss race, etc.) How much we all take for granted! No wonder it takes so long for a child to grow up...there's so much to learn.

You are so right - I feel like I just had a wonderful, leisurely lunch with one of my closest friends. Everything looks delectable. And the stories of your expat friends is inviting. But since I cannot move there, I have started following Lindsey's blog. Thanks for sharing.

Well.. I am now Bioderma"ing"..feels good! Thank goodness I can stay away from sweets..just love baking them and looking at them..My husband is the sweet tooth here.I would be the chip girl..You go Bear!

Fab photos Carol..Love Paris and France , as you know, AND today I learnt that I have won a copy of My Sweet Life in Paris :-)A complete surprise. I had entered a giveaway a little while ago and forgot all about it.

Unlike everyone else, I find your lovely post a tear jerker -- for the sheer reason that Ante Prima's closed. And Carol, we didn't even get to eat in the gorgeous courtyard, because of the weather. Too sad. Will tell you when I find its replacement.

An avid reader says hi!Can you recommend a low-key but delicious and no-reservations-needed restaurant near Rue Charlot, i.e. in the Marais for my parents who are visiting in October?We are Canadian, by the way. They are very cool, late 60-ish, want something romantic and delicious bistro, good value. Some type of long- established place?Merci! Andrea